Device for feeding blanks of windowed sheet material



G. EHLSCHEID 3,356,363

WINDOWED SHEET MATFRIAL Dec. 5, 1967 DEVICE FOR FEEDING BLANKS OF 5 Shamsheet- Filed Oct. 21, 1965 r mlv a .mH I fl L H [L a E T N m G BY HCum Cunc? QTToRueYs G. EHLSCHEID Dec. 5, 1967 DEVICE FOR FEEDING BLANKS O? WINDOWEI) SHEET MATUJAL.

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DEVICE FOR FEEDING BLANKS OF WINDOWED SHEET MATERIAL filed Oct. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor: GUNTER E yuscueu;

BY Ram QMA FTORNEYS G. EHLSCHEID Dec. 5, 1967 DEVICE FOR FEEDING BLANKS OF WINDOWED SHEET MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 GLLMTER. Eul l f l o BY H (A Dec. 5, 1967 G. EHLSCHEID 3,

DEVICE FOR FEEDING BLANKS OF WINDOWED SHEET MATERIAL Filed 06L .1, 1 5 Sheets-Sheet, 5

INVEN'IUR. GUNTEE EHL SCHE/D B QM A T'TORIVEYS United States Patent '0 3,356,363 DEVICE FOR FEEDING BLANKS F WINDOWED SHEET MATERIAL Giinter Ehlscheid, Neuwied, Germany, assignor to Richand Winkler, Rengsdorf uber Neuwied, and Kurt Diinnebier, Gladbach, Germany Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,188 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 12, 1965,

16 Claims. (Cl. 271--2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for withdrawing windowed envelope blanks, one by one, from a supply of superimposed or staggered blanks in which deflection means acting through the window of the foremost blank upon the next succeeding blank causes separation of the two blanks so as to prevent a catching of the window edges of one blank with the window edges of the next adjacent blank.

The present invention relates to a feed device for feeding or separating pre-cut blanks for making envelopes With windows either by pulling out successive lowermost blanks of a stack of blanks, or by accelerating the foremost blank of a supply of blanks fed in staggered relationship to a higher travel speed than the feed speed of such supply of blanks. Devices of this kind are used in association with envelope making machines and similar machines.

Irrespective whether a blank is withdrawn from a stationary stack for feeding to an envelope making machine or is separated from a supply of staggered blanks, which are fed to an envelope making machine for gumming the exposed margins of the blanks, by accelerating the foremost blank in the supply, the blank being withdrawn or accelerated will slide along the next adjacent blank in contact with the same. It has been found that the trailing window edge of the processed blank which is comparatively rapidly moved in reference to the next adjacent blank, tends to catch the leading window edge of such next adjacent blank thereby causing tearing or other damage'to one or both blanks in contact and also interfering with the smooth operation of the envelope making machine.

Several. devices have been proposed to prevent such mutual catching of adjacent blanks, but all the devices for the purpose as heretofore known are comparatively complicated and render more difficult the servicing and setting up of the envelope making machine.

Itis a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improved devices of the general kind above referred to which effectively prevents mutual catching of two adjacent envelope blanks, is simple in design and does not complicate the operation and servicing of the envelope making machine.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of the general kind above referred to which forces a blank while being withdrawn or accelerated into a position in which the window edges of the blank and of the next adjacent blank tending to catch each other are held apart.

The aforementioned objects, features and advantages and other objects, features and advantages which will be pointed out hereinafter are attained by providing stationary support means for a stack of blanks or a supply of staggered blanks, drive means disposed in a substantially coplanar relationship with said support means for moving a blank withdrawn from the stack or the supply along a predetermined path and tensioning the blank while being moved, and deflection means engaging the moving blank 3,356,363 Patented Dec. 5, 1967 ice to deflect the same through a predetermined angle in reference to said path. As aresult, the trailing window edge of the moving blank and the leading window edge of the next adjacent blank are held safely spaced apart while they pass each other so that they cannot catch each other.

The deflection means are preferably elevated in reference to the support means and adjustable with respect to the position thereof in reference to the drive means. They may advantageously comprise a plate placed upon the support means and slanted at one edge in the direction of movement of the blanks. Adjustment of the spacing of the deflection plate from the drive means may be obtained by one or several elongated slots in the deflector plate and set screws extending through the elongated slots for securing the plate in a selected position.

In the event the device of the invention is used for separating, one by one, blanks supplied in a moving staggered array by accelerating successive blanks in reference to the movement of the array, the deflection means may be in the form of a stationary edge or of a roller guiding drive means in the form of conveyor belts for the blanks to be accelerated. The deflection means may be disposed between the support means for the blanks and the belts. They may be adjustable by means of one or several elongated slots and set screws extending through the slots.

A leaf spring reaching through the window of the blank being withdrawn to press against the next adjacent blank is preferably provided to retain such next adjacent blank in its position. The position of the leaf spring in reference to the location of the windows of the blank may be adjustable.

Retention of the next adjacent blank in its position may also be obtained by a blowing nozzle directing an air stream upon the next adjacent blank through the window of the blank being withdrawn.

In the accompanying drawing, several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in' section, for successively withdrawing lowermost blanks from a stack of blanks, the section being taken on line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, partly in section,

along line II-II of FIG. 1, part of the drive means being omitted for clarity of illustration; FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic elevational view partly in section, of a device for separating blanks supplied in a staggered array, the section being taken on line IIIIII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a modification of the device for separating blanks; and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 in detail, these figures A show a stack plate 1 supported by crosswise brackets 2 and 3 which should be visualized as being mounted on a side wall (not shown) of an envelope making machine. The side walls further support a shaft 5 on which one or several feed segments 4 are mounted for rotation with the shaft and which should be visualized as being driven by suitable drive means. Each feed segment 4 coacts with a counter roller 6 secured on a shaft 7 which may also be mounted in the side Walls of the machine. Only one segment 4 and one counter roller 6 are shown to simplify the illustration. A suction nozzle 8 pivotal about and in communication with a hollow suction shaft 9 is provided for each set of a segment 4 and a counter roller6.

The device also comprises rotary feed discs 10 and 11 which are disposed above feed segment 4 and also somewhat above the level of stack plate 1, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 1. The discs and 11 rotate in opposition. Gearing boxes 12 for the discs are supported on a bracket 13 which may be visualized as being secured on the side walls of the machine. The gear boxes 12 are preferably mounted adjustable in reference to each other to vary the spacing of the rotational axes of discs 10 and 11. A tongue 14, pivotal in unison with an axle 14, is provided above suction nozzle 8 in symmetric relationship with discs 10, 11 and segment 4. A serrated or toothed stack guide 16 is provided above the tongue.

The stack plate supports a deflection plate 17 including two elongated slots 18. The plate and also slotted legs 19 thereof are secured by suitable fastening means 21, such as set screws, bolts, nuts, etc. in a predetermined position in reference to plate 1. As it is evident, the elongated slots permit a displacement of plate 17 within its own plane within a rather wide range. The plate 17 has at its crosswise trailing edge as seen in the direction of movement of blanks to be withdrawn, a forwardly and downwardly slanted side defining an edge 22.

A stack of pre-cut blanks 23, each having an open window cut-out 24, rests upon deflection plate 17 and partly upon the two feed discs 10 and 11. The stack is aligned by rear stack guides 20 and forward stack guide 16. The position of plate 17 in reference to the stack is such that the edge 22 of the plate is just below or slightly ahead of the trailing edge 26 of the windows of the stacked blanks.

The device of FIGS. 1 and 2 as hereinbefore described operates as follows:

FIG. 1 shows the device in the position in which the lowermost blank 23 is pulled by suction nozzle 8 into its lowermost position. The suction nozzle, while pulling down blank 23' has moved from its uppermost position shown in chain lines into its lowermost full line position. The control of the suction nozzle movement is effected in a conventional manner and does not constitute part of the present invention. Tongue 14, which is pivoted out of the position shown in FIG. 1 when and while the suction nozzle is in its uppermost position for sucking on blank 23', has been returned into the position of FIG. 1. The points 10' and 11' of the feed discs are thus located between the lowermost blank 23' and the next adjacent blank as is clearly shown in FIG. 2.

All the control functions just referred to are conventional and well understood by experts in the field.

When now the rotation of segment 4 in clockwise direction is continued, the edge or point 4' of the segment grips the pulled down blank 23' and bends the blank about the rounded end portion 1' of stack .plate 1 and toward counter roller 6 which rotates in counterclockwise direction. The blank is fully pulled out of the stack as soon as a shouldered peripheral portion 4" presses the deflected end of blank 23' against roller 6.

Due to and while being pulled out of the stack, the portion of blank 23' lying between edge 22 of plate 17 and the rounded portion 1 of plate 1 is stretched or tensioned as it is shown in FIG. 1. This figure also shows that the lowermost blank, while being deflected as described, is separated from the next adjacent blank by a distance such that there is no danger of a mutual catching of the trailing window edge 26 of the moving blank and the leading window edge 25 of the next adjacent blank.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, these figures exemplify a feeding device according to the invention for separating, one by one, blanks which are supplied in a staggered array by accelerating the foremost blank in the array in reference to the movement of the supply of blanks.

The device according to FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises a support plate 31 for supporting an array of staggered blanks 30. The plate is supported by one or several brackets 32 which may be visualized as being secured in the side wall (not shown) of an envelope making machine. These side walls also support rotary drive shafts 33, 34 and 35 which are driven in a manner hereinafter more fully explained. Shaft 33 supports a roller 36 over which are guided three conveyor belts 3'7 and 38 (see FIG. 4) which are driven by means of a driving drum (not shown) and guided by idlers (also not shown) in the direction of the arrow, thereby rotating roller 36 in counterclockwise direction. Plate 31 supports a plate 39 of generally wedge-shaped configuration, the taper of plate 39 rising in the feed direction of the blanks indicated in FIG. 3 by an arow just above reference numeral 31. The spatial distance between wedge-shaped plate 39 and roller 36 is adjustable, for instance, by means of elongated slots 41 through which extend suitably secured set screws or bolts 40. Plate 39 is formed with upwardly open bearings in which a roller 42 is journalled. The roller constitutes a deflection member, but a deflection member in the form of a suitably rounded edge may also be used. However, such rounded edge results in more wear and tear at the conveyor belts than roller 42.

The array of staggered windowed envelope blanks 30 is fed to the belts in the direction of the arrow above numeral 31 by feeding means suitable and conventional for the purpose. One or several yieldably supported counter rollers 43 are preferably provided which press the blanks toward the conveyor belts. The blanks are futher downwardly pressed by a preferably rather weak leaf spring 44. The spring is secured by a holder 45 on a cross rod 46 on which the holder is lengthwise displaceable. The holder may be secured in any selected position of displacement by suitable locking means indicated as a set screw. The rod itself is preferably adjustable in the direction of travel of the blanks and parallel to plate 31. It may be visualized as being adjustably mounted on the envelope making machine by any suitable and conventional means.

Shaft 34 seats two discs 47 rotating clockwise in unison with the shaft. Finally, shaft 35 seats two disc segments 48 which rotate counterclockwise at the same rotational speed as the discs 47. The peripheral area of contact between discs 47 and segments 48 is in substantial planar alignment with the plane of the upper surface of plate 31 and the upper level of the peripheral outline of roller 36. The peripheral rotational speed and the rpm. of segments 48 in reference to the speed of travel of conveyor belts 38 are so correlated that upon completion of one revolution by the segments, the foremost blank 30 which is gripped by catch noses 49 on segments 48 at the beginning of a revolution is fully pulled out and transferred to posterior drive means (not shown) just when the next succeeding blank 30 has reached the position shown for blank 30'. The second blank is accelerated similarly to the first blank and pulled out upon completion of one revolution. The just described cycle is repeated for each successive blank.

The device as heretofore described for withdrawing staggered blanks is known as such and does not constitute art of the invention, except for spring means 44, the mounting thereof and the provision of wedge-shaped plate 39 and deflection member 42.

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, foremost blank 30' is stretched by the pull applied to it due to the acceleration effected by segments 48 and discs 47. Leaf spring 44 is so adjusted that it extends through the window opening 50 of blank 30 and presses slightly upon the underlying next adjacent blank 30" thereby holding the same down. As a result, the trailing window edge 52 of blank 30 is spaced from the leading window edge 51 of the next adjacent blank 30 so that each two adjacent blanks can pass each other without danger of mutually catching at the window edges.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a deflecting device in which sepa ration of the foremost blank and the next succeeding blank from each other is effected by an air jet.

The same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding components.

According to the figures, a pipe 61 ending at one end in a nozzle 62 and connected at the other end to a hose 60 which should be visualized as leading to a suitable supply of pressure air is mounted on holder 45 lengthwise slidable on rod 46. The nozzle directs an air jet through window opening 50 of blank 30' upon the underlying blank 30'', thereby separating the two blanks from each other. As is evident, the blower of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 corresponds in function to the leaf spring 44 of FIG. 3.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for withdrawing windowed envelope blanks, one by one, from a supply of such blanks, said device comprising stationary support means for supporting a supply of blanks, drive means having a portion disposed in substantially coplanar relationship with said support means for moving the blank to be withdrawn along a predetermined path, said drive means tensioning the blank while being moved, and deflection means first engaging the blank while being moved and then engaging the next adjacent blank to deflect the same through a predetermined angle in reference to said path whereby a spacing between the trailing window edge of the moving blank and the leading window edge of the next adjacent blank in said supply is provided.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said deflection means are positioned at a higher level than said support means and said drive means.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said deflection means are adjustably mounted for varying the position thereof in reference to said drive means.

4. A device according to claim 1 for Withdrawing blanks, one by one, from the bottom of a stack of blanks on said support means wherein said deflection means comprise a plate placed upon said support means and having a deflection edge transverse of the direction of travel of the blank being withdrawn, said edge being the trailing edge of the plate in the direction of travel of said blank.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said deflection edge is outwardly and downwardly slanted in reference to said travel direction.

6. A device according to claim 1 and comprising adjustable mounting means supporting said deflection means adjustable with respect to the spatial distance thereof from the drive means, said mounting means including an elongated slot in the deflection means and a set screw extending through said slot for securing the deflection means in a selected position.

7. A device according to claim 1 for separating blanks, one by one, from a moving supply of staggered blanks by accelerating each blank to be separated in reference to the speed of movement of said supply, wherein said drive means com-prise conveyor belt means and a stationarily mounted roller guiding said conveyor belt means along said predetermined path, and wherein said deflection means comprises a deflection member deflecting said conveyor belt means out of part of said path whereby a blank moving along with said conveyor belt means is correspondingly deflected in reference to the position of said supply of blanks, said deflection member being disposed between said conveyor belt means and said stationary support means.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said deflection member comprises a roller over which said conveyor belt means are guided.

9. A device according to claim 8 and comprising a tapered mounting plate supported on said support means and supporting said conveyor belt means, the taper of said plate rising in the direction of movement of the blank, said deflection roller being supported by said mounting plate.

10. A device according to claim 9 and comprising adjustable holding means securing the deflection roller on said mounting plate, said holding means being adjustable for varying the spatial relation between the roller and the conveyor belt means.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said adjustable holding means comprise an elongated slot in said plate and a set screw extending through said slot for securing the holding means in a selected position.

12. A device according to claim 7 and comprising a spring means mounted to extend through the Window of the foremost blank moving on said conveyor belt means for engagement with the next adjacent blank in said supply toapply a downward pressure upon said next adjacent blank in reference to said foremost blank.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said spring means is adjustable in reference to the location of the windows in said blanks.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring secured at one end, the other end engaging said next adjacent blank.

15. A device according to claim 7 and comprising a blower means for directing a stream of air through the window of the foremost blank moving on said conveyor belt means upon the next adjacent blank in the supply.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said blower means is adjustable in reference to the location of the windows in said blanks.

ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primal} Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING WINDOWED ENVELOPE BLANKS, ONE BY ONE, FROM A SUPPLY OF SUCH BLANKS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING STATIONARY SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A SUPPLY OF BLANKS, DRIVE MEANS HAVING A PORTION DISPOSED IN SUSBTANTIALLY COPLANAR RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVING THE BLANK TO BE WITHDRAWN ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, SAID DRIVE MEANS TENSIONING THE BLANK WHILE BEING MOVED, AND DEFLECTION MEANS FIRST ENGAGING THE BLANK WHILE BEING MOVED AND THEN ENGAGING THE NEXT ADJACENT BLANK TO DEFLECT THE SAME THROUGH A PREDETERMINED ANGLE IN REFERENCE TO SAID PATH WHEREBY A SPACING BETWEEN THE TRAILING WINDOW EDGE OF THE MOVING BLANK AND THE LEADING WINDOW EDGE OF THE NEXT ADJACENT BLANK IN SAID SUPPLY IS PROVIDED. 